About

My current research goals:

Assessment of networks in biological communities using statistical and conceptual models to elucidate (i) biodiversity patterns and coexistence mechanisms and (ii) consequences for the stability of complex communities

Application of these analytical models to evaluate the link between coral microbiomes and the resilience of their hosts

Engage in cross-sectorial research and apply my analytical skills across the boundaries of my discipline

Research interests

Ecological Network Modelling: Natural communities often form complex and highly dynamic species networks that define the functionality of ecosystems. The goal of my post-doc at the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre in Derby is to investigate these networks using conceptual and statistical models. I will aim to answer questions such as how the stability of communities is linked to key network characteristics (e.g. modularity or average interaction strength between species) and how species co-existence may be facilitated by positive and negative species interactions.

The resilience of socio-ecological system in Western Kenya: Climate change and the projected doubling of the human population within the next 35 years are considered as major stressors in drylands of Western Kenya. As member of the Triple L (Land-Livestock-Livelihoods initiative) research initiative, I study the potential effects of population growth on the average land-size per household and the application of different agricultural practices. An important goal of my research is to explore potential consequences of system transitions for the climate resilience of communities.

Plankton and nutritional ecology: Aquatic and terrestrial population dynamics are shaped by the interactions between the quantity and quality of dietary resources. In my research, I combined experimental and modelling approaches to investigate the consequences of dietary food quality for the fitness of consumers and the cycling of nutrients and energy in food-webs. In my research, which also included one year of field-work in East Africa, I demonstrated different behavioural and physiological mechanisms in consumers to mitigate the effect of low food quality in their prey.